The Role Of Strain Echocardiography Examination For Clinical Evaluation Of Patients With Myocarditis

Abstract

Background: Myocarditis, an inflammatory condition of the heart muscle, can be challenging to diagnose, particularly in young adults, due to its variable presentation and overlap with other cardiac conditions. Cardiac strain echocardiography, which measures myocardial deformation, has emerged as a promising diagnostic tool in this context.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 30-year-old female who presented with symptoms of shortness of breath and arrhythmias. Initial evaluations included a 24-hour Holter monitor, which detected irregular heart rhythms, and a cardiac MRI, which revealed inflammation consistent with myocarditis. Despite these findings, conventional echocardiographic assessments were inconclusive. Cardiac strain echocardiography was subsequently employed, showing significant alterations in global longitudinal strain, which provided critical diagnostic insight into myocardial involvement and severity.

Management and Outcome: The patient was started on a regimen of heart failure medications, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and diuretics, tailored to manage his symptoms and reduce myocardial stress. Follow-up with cardiac strain echocardiography demonstrated improvements in myocardial strain patterns, correlating with clinical improvement and resolution of symptoms.

Conclusion: This case underscores the value of cardiac strain echocardiography in diagnosing myocarditis in young adults. The technique's ability to detect subtle myocardial dysfunction not evident on conventional imaging highlights its role as an adjunctive tool in the comprehensive assessment of myocarditis. Further studies are warranted to establish its utility and optimize diagnostic protocols in this patient population.